• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

fundsforNGOs News

Grants and Resources for Sustainability

  • Subscribe for Free
  • Premium Support
  • Premium Login
  • Premium Sign up
  • Home
  • Funds for NGOs
    • Agriculture, Food and Nutrition
    • Animals and Wildlife
    • Arts and Culture
    • Children
    • Civil Society
    • Community Development
    • COVID
    • Democracy and Good Governance
    • Disability
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Employment and Labour
    • Environmental Conservation and Climate Change
    • Family Support
    • Healthcare
    • HIV and AIDS
    • Housing and Shelter
    • Humanitarian Relief
    • Human Rights
    • Human Service
    • Information Technology
    • LGBTQ
    • Livelihood Development
    • Media and Development
    • Narcotics, Drugs and Crime
    • Old Age Care
    • Peace and Conflict Resolution
    • Poverty Alleviation
    • Refugees, Migration and Asylum Seekers
    • Science and Technology
    • Sports and Development
    • Sustainable Development
    • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
    • Women and Gender
  • Funds for Companies
    • Accounts and Finance
    • Agriculture, Food and Nutrition
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Education
    • Energy
    • Environment and Climate Change
    • Healthcare
    • Innovation
    • Manufacturing
    • Media
    • Research Activities
    • Startups and Early-Stage
    • Sustainable Development
    • Technology
    • Travel and Tourism
    • Women
    • Youth
  • Funds for Individuals
    • All Individuals
    • Artists
    • Disabled Persons
    • LGBTQ Persons
    • PhD Holders
    • Researchers
    • Scientists
    • Students
    • Women
    • Writers
    • Youths
  • Funds in Your Country
    • Funds in Australia
    • Funds in Bangladesh
    • Funds in Belgium
    • Funds in Canada
    • Funds in Switzerland
    • Funds in Cameroon
    • Funds in Germany
    • Funds in the United Kingdom
    • Funds in Ghana
    • Funds in India
    • Funds in Kenya
    • Funds in Lebanon
    • Funds in Malawi
    • Funds in Nigeria
    • Funds in the Netherlands
    • Funds in Tanzania
    • Funds in Uganda
    • Funds in the United States
    • Funds within the United States
      • Funds for US Nonprofits
      • Funds for US Individuals
      • Funds for US Businesses
      • Funds for US Institutions
    • Funds in South Africa
    • Funds in Zambia
    • Funds in Zimbabwe
  • Proposal Writing
    • How to write a Proposal
    • Sample Proposals
      • Agriculture
      • Business & Entrepreneurship
      • Children
      • Climate Change & Diversity
      • Community Development
      • Democracy and Good Governance
      • Disability
      • Disaster & Humanitarian Relief
      • Environment
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Housing & Shelter
      • Human Rights
      • Information Technology
      • Livelihood Development
      • Narcotics, Drugs & Crime
      • Nutrition & Food Security
      • Poverty Alleviation
      • Sustainable Develoment
      • Refugee & Asylum Seekers
      • Rural Development
      • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
      • Women and Gender
  • News
    • Q&A
  • Premium
    • Premium Log-in
    • Premium Webinars
    • Premium Support
  • Contact
    • Submit Your Grant
    • About us
    • FAQ
    • NGOs.AI
You are here: Home / cat / Period Poverty: Why Millions of Girls and Women Can’t Afford Menstrual Products

Period Poverty: Why Millions of Girls and Women Can’t Afford Menstrual Products

Dated: July 29, 2025

Millions of women and girls around the world still lack access to basic menstrual products and safe water and sanitation facilities, severely affecting their ability to manage their menstrual health. This situation results in missed days at school or work and poses serious risks to their health, education, and overall well-being. Despite menstruation being a natural and healthy biological process, the lack of resources and infrastructure continues to disrupt the lives and rights of menstruators globally.

Period poverty refers to the inability to afford or access menstrual products, hygiene and sanitation facilities, and accurate information about menstrual health. The main drivers of period poverty include the high cost of menstrual supplies, societal stigma, and inadequate infrastructure. Gender-insensitive policies and discriminatory tax practices, such as classifying menstrual products as luxury items, exacerbate the issue.

Globally, over 1.5 billion people lack access to basic sanitation, and many women and girls do not have private places to manage their periods. This lack of access disproportionately affects those in rural areas. For example, in several countries, a significant percentage of rural women and girls had no private space to change or wash during their last period.

Educational gaps and social taboos also contribute to period poverty. Many girls are unprepared for their first period due to a lack of information and awareness. In countries like Bangladesh and Egypt, a substantial proportion of girls were unaware of menstruation prior to experiencing it. Misconceptions, such as the belief that menstruating women are “dirty” or should be isolated, reinforce stigma and restrict their participation in daily activities.

Period poverty is not limited to developing countries. In both low- and high-income nations, the affordability and availability of menstrual products remain significant barriers. Urban women often have better access to sanitary pads than rural women, who may rely on cloth or, in extreme cases, no materials at all. In the U.S., 1 in 4 teens and 1 in 3 adults face difficulties affording menstrual products, particularly among marginalized communities.

Menstrual health is increasingly being recognized as a public health and human rights issue, especially during humanitarian crises. In conflict-affected regions, an estimated 614 million women and girls struggle to manage their menstruation due to lack of resources. For instance, in Gaza, over half a million women and girls lack access to hygiene items, and many are forced to use makeshift alternatives like cloth or sponges.

Economic instability worsens the situation, as seen in Lebanon, where the prices of menstrual products surged drastically during the financial crisis. This made basic hygiene products unaffordable for many, especially in communities where menstruation remains a taboo topic, further silencing women’s and girls’ needs and voices.

Overall, period poverty is a multifaceted issue driven by economic inequality, inadequate infrastructure, cultural stigma, and insufficient policy support. Addressing it requires comprehensive efforts to improve access to menstrual products, sanitation facilities, education, and policy reform across both stable and crisis-affected settings.

Related Posts

  • Zimbabwe to Host UN Working Group on Women's and Girls’ Rights
  • First International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent Calls for Bold Action and Recognition of Leadership
  • Esha Maiwalle Foundation Promotes Menstrual Dignity for Girls in Northern Nigeria
  • Global Dialogue Highlights Women’s Leadership in Peace, Security, and Diplomacy
  • The Gambia Secures $19.93 Million ADF Grant to Address Fragility and Boost Rural Opportunities
author avatar
ritu
See Full Bio

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

US Tariffs Push ASEAN Closer to China as UN Warns Billions in Exports at Risk

Pakistan Eyes Viet Nam’s $400 Billion Export Model for Economic Growth

Three Bhutanese Cities to Adopt Flood-Resilient Urban Planning Measures

$38 Million Lifesaving Projects Launched by Korea and UN to Restore Services in Syria

Rethinking Development: A Global Call for Sustainable Progress

EU to Enhance Financial Education and Expand Investment Opportunities Across Member States

Human Rights at Risk as Internet Access Disrupted in Afghanistan

Foreign Influence Registration Scheme Now Mandatory in UK, Russia and Iran on Enhanced Tier

UK Pledges $36 Million to Support Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh at UN General Assembly

International Nuclear Energy Summit Announced by Swedish Government

Government Boosts Ukraine Innovation Initiative with SEK 300 Million Funding

Government Unveils Civil Support Package to Aid Ukraine Amid Ongoing Challenges

Sweden Increases Humanitarian Aid Commitment with SEK 775 Million Funding

Gavi Achieves Unprecedented Success in Vaccination Efforts Worldwide

$531 Million USDA Grant to Aid Agricultural Recovery in Georgia

South Carolina Agricultural Recovery: USDA Awards $38.3 Million Following Hurricane Helene

Minister Grealish Highlights Ireland’s €1 Billion Horizon Europe Funding and Agri-Food, Forestry, Bioeconomy Successes

European Investment Bank Accelerates Green Funding to Boost Competitiveness and Tech Leadership

EIB, Endesa and Spanish Ministry of Economy Invest €650 Million to Digitalize Spain’s Power Grid

Western Ukraine Welcomes 500 Students to New EU-Backed School

Boosting Tanzania’s Farming Sector: Team Europe’s Impact in Kilimanjaro

Regional Conference in Kyrgyzstan Focuses on Safe Repatriation of Children from Conflict Zones

Empowering Young Entrepreneurs in Laos to Strengthen Sustainable Tourism

European Union Allocates €1 Million to Support Yellow Fever Response in South America

Islamic Development Bank Greenlights $1.27 Billion for Resilient Economies and Inclusive Growth

IsDB Approves $1.27 Billion to Drive Sustainable Development Across 12 Member Countries

IDB Approves Financing to Drive AI and Digital Transformation in Piauí, Brazil

Boosting South American Growth: IDB Group Unveils ‘South Connection’ Project

Plastic Burning in Gaza Sparks Severe Health Emergency

Global Summit on Traditional Medicine 2025: WHO and India Sign MoU to Strengthen Collaboration

Emergency Medical Support: WHO Assists Health Services in Savannah Conflict Zone

Strengthening Health Systems: WHO Supports Angola in Medicines and Health Technology Oversight

Taliban-Imposed Internet Blackout in Afghanistan Sparks Crisis Amid Rising Humanitarian Needs

Youth-Driven Change in Nepal: A Call for International Support

Global Cultural Policy Conference Highlights ILO’s Role in Cooperatives and Decent Work

Thailand’s Auto Sector Boosted by ILO Mentorship Programme on Responsible Business

Empowering Care Through Cooperatives: Insights from South4Care Initiative

ILO Applauds Papua New Guinea’s New National Minimum Wage Policy

Myanmar’s Rohingya Plight: Urgent Call for International Action

Haiti: UN Security Council Authorizes ‘Suppression Force’ to Combat Rising Gang Attacks

Funds for NGOs
Funds for Companies
Funds for Media
Funds for Individuals
Sample Proposals

Contact us
Submit a Grant
Advertise, Guest Posting & Backlinks
Fight Fraud against NGOs
About us

Terms of Use
Third-Party Links & Ads
Disclaimers
Copyright Policy
General
Privacy Policy

Premium Sign in
Premium Sign up
Premium Customer Support
Premium Terms of Service

©FUNDSFORNGOS LLC.   fundsforngos.org, fundsforngos.ai, and fundsforngospremium.com domains and their subdomains are the property of FUNDSFORNGOS, LLC 140 Broadway 46th Floor, New York, NY 10005, United States.   Unless otherwise specified, this website is not affiliated with the abovementioned organizations. The material provided here is solely for informational purposes and without any warranty. Visitors are advised to use it at their discretion. Read the full disclaimer here. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy.